Probing Soft Matter with Neutrons: High-Pressure Experiments and Liquid Foams

by Leonardo Chiappisi (Institut Laue Langevin)

Monday 11 Nov 2024, 14:30 → 15:30 Europe/Berlin

PH HS 3 (Physics Department)

Neutron scattering facilities across the globe are undergoing continuous upgrades, enhancing their instrumental capabilities and enabling experiments that were previously unimaginable. From advancements in neutron production and beamline optics to the development of highly sensitive detectors, these improvements are transforming our ability to explore complex systems. Equally important, however, are the significant strides made in sample environments, allowing researchers to study materials under extreme conditions, high-throughput scenarios, and even in-operando or in-vivo conditions.

In this seminar, I will highlight two cutting-edge developments: high-pressure experiments and the structural characterization of liquid foams using neutron scattering.

Hydrostatic pressure is a key thermodynamic variable that exerts profound effects on the physicochemical properties of colloidal and polymer systems. As such, it provides a powerful means to investigate phenomena like phase transitions, self-organization, and supramolecular aggregation. I will present a series of experiments where high-pressure neutron scattering has been employed to probe polymer thin films and phase separation, revealing new insights into their behavior under extreme conditions.

Additionally, I will discuss the application of neutron scattering for the comprehensive structural analysis of liquid foams. This technique has emerged as an invaluable tool for addressing both fundamental questions in foam physics and challenges in foam-based industrial applications.

Together, these studies showcase the versatidlity of neutron scattering in probing soft matter systems, offering exciting prospects for future research in materials science.